Preparation and characterization of gold/poly(vinyl alcohol /MoS₂ intercalation nanocomposite

Gold-molybdenum disulfide nanocomposites were prepared by means of exfoliation of a layered host and subsequent in situ oxidation-reduction of the intercalated auric compounds, using the interlayer of MoS₂ as the nanoreactor and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) molecules as the dispersant. The nanocomposites were characterized by means of powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformafion infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrical conductivity of the Au/PVA/MoS₂ nanocomposites at various temperatures was investigated. Results indicated that Au and PVA were intercalated in the layered MoS₂, at an interlayer distance of 2.072 and 0.928 nm. The intercalation of Au and PVA led to a significant increase in the electrical conductivity value of MoS₂, while the electrical conductivity value of the intercalation nanocomposites decreased with decreasing temperature.